Float



' R. SQUIER June 13, 1939.

FLOAT Filed Aug. 2. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved watercraft or float that can be used instead of a boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a watercraft that is supported in water by the use of a plurality of oval-shaped floats.

Another object of the invention is to provide a craft that has a frame carrying a drivers seat that is supported several feet above the Water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a craft that-is propelled by an oar that works centrally in the craft and not on either side of the craft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a craft that can be steered by the swinging of one of the floats.

Another object of the invention is to provide a craft that can be folded up into a compact space.

These and other objects of the invention will be illustrated in the drawings, described in the specification, and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the craft.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the craft looking at it from the right hand end of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the craft looking at it from the left hand end of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the right hand end of the pontoon shown at the lower right hand corner of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the rudder connection.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the hinge that is used in the car.

In the drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings reference numeral I indicates a beam that runs longitudinally at the top of the 0 craft. On this beam is hinged a pair of arms 2, 2 at the front and arms 3, 3 at the rear. The upper ends of these arms are beveled wherethey contact with the beam to correspond-with the correct position of the arms when the arms are spread out. The hinges are indicated at 4, 4 in Figure 2. These arms 2 and 3 on each side are connected by the bars 5 and '6, which bars extend lengthwise, which bars are connected at an intermediate point by an arm 4 which is hinged to the beam I in the same manner as are the arms 2 and 3. Because of the hinge connections, the arms 3,3, the arms 2,2, and the arms 4, 4 can be drawn together at the same time, thus reducing the spread between the pontoons and making the device more compact.

At the lower end of the arms 2 and 3 is connected on each side the pontoons I and B. Each of these pontoons has a bar or tube 9 that extends the whole length of it and projects beyond each end, to which the pontoon is fastened by a watertight joint. This bar is carried in bearings I0 in which it can rock so that the pontoon can adapt itself to the waves in the water. This makes the craft ride easier and gives the waves less chance to wash over or slap the pontoons. 10

Inside of the pontoon is provided braces II, I2 and I3. One of these braces ,is shown on a large scale in Figure 4. The pontoon is sealed up all around, so that water cannot get into it, but todetect a leak and reduce the possibility of leaks {I it is desirable to put the air inside of the pontoon under a low pressure, and if leak occurs the air bubbles will show themselves coming up through the water. By having the air under pressure, the leaking of water into the pontoon is either 0 prevented or greatly reduced.

To permit the air to flow from one end of the pontoon to the other, the braces I3 have perforations in them at various intervals as shown in Figure 4. The air is introduced into the pontoon through the pipe 9 which has a cap 9a and an air valve 91) on the end thereof. Air is pumped through this valve 91) intothe pipe 9 and passes through the small holes into the pontoon. The air is held therein by the closing of the valve 91). 30

At the forward end of the beam I is provided an arm I5 which is attached to the beam by the hinge I6. A brace I1 is provided hinged to the beam I at l8 and connected to the arm l5 by a strap I9. It willbe understood that the arm I5 rests on the arms 2 and forms a seat for the 4 passenger. This board has fastened thereon on the under side angle brackets 22, 22 which engage under the bars 5 and serve to hold the bars apart and hold the seat in place. To collapse the two sides of the float, the seat must be re- 45 moved.

On the beam l is provided a seat 24 for the operator of the float. He sits thereon facing to the right in Figure 1. That is, he faces to the rear the same as he would face in rowing a boat. 50 Immediately in front of him is placed the handle 25 of the car which is pivoted in bearings 26. At the bottom of the car 25 is fastened a blade 2'! which is connected to the oar by a hingle 28, so that the blade can swing on the oar. This per-, 55

mits the blade or paddle 21 to trail in the water on the idle stroke when the operator is recovering the car, so to speak. On the power stroke, however, it is necessary to cause the blade 2l-to react on the water. 7

To secure this result I use the hinge shown in Figure 6, the upper part of the hinge being fastened to the oar 25 and the lower part of the hinge fastened to the blade '21. The hinge has a shoulder 28g on the upper leaf that engages with the corresponding shoulder Moon the lower leaf. 'These shoulders come in contact when the operator pulls the oar 25 toward him on the power stroke, and in such position the hinge holds the blade of the oar in line with or parallel to the oar itself, but when the operator pushesthe, oar away from him onthe idle or return stroke, then the lower leaf of the hingecan swing free with the blade as it trails through the water. On the power stroke of the oar the shoulders engage again and hold the blade securely so that the muscular effort of the rower is communicated to the water through the blade, which in that case is rigid with the oar.

7 On the oar 25 is a collar clamped thereon A link 36 connects this collar to the swinging arm 31 hinged at 38 to the bar I. On the arm 31 is a cross-bar 39, on which the feet are adapted to rest and by which the oar'can be driven by moving thefeet and legs. 40 is provided which is swiveled in the beam 1.

On top of this shaft is a steering wheel 4!. the bottom of the shaft is a drum 42.

On The drum and shaft 40 are held in place by the bracket 43.;

Fastened tojthe drum 42 is the steering rope 44 which passes under pulleys 45 and46. 'This rope 44 is fastened to the forward end of the float:

- 48, which float is swiveled at 49 on a bracket 50 on the forwardend ofthe arm l5. On the bot-' tom of thefloat 48 is provided the web'or fin 50 which cuts the water andhelps to make the 'float act-as a; rudder'by which the floatissteered.

1 For the purpose of also helping-to steer thecraft,- I provide a rudder keyed on the upright shaft-56, which is :swiveled in a;bearing 51.1 On

pinned in any one of several-positions for the purpose of holding the rudder in a fixed position.

On the bottom of the arms 2 and 3 is provided a connectionwhich holds'the pontoon:i n place thereon, which permits the pontoon to be disconnected and removed. This connection is' describedasfolloWszOn the under sidefof the arms is provided a hinge having'ajleaf, G6. On the upper-side of the armsZand 3 is provided a strap 61 The pipe that carries the pontoon is inserted between .the stationary leaf of the hinge 6 5* and the strap 61, which strap is made narrow. The 1 leaf. 66" is wide and has a slot'thereinthat is adaptedto receive the' free end of thestrap 6T;

" The shaft 9 is placed between the strap 61 and r the stationaryleaf of the hinge: 65, and the leaf fid'isswung up into engagement with the lower end of the strap 61. The'leaf 66 is then fastened: in this positionb y inserting a-cotterpin 68' in. a hole provided in the strap" for that purpose.

y 1'. 'Asfloat comprisingja central horizontal beam, one-piece swinging arms projecting on.

An upright shaft endof said lever by which the jbeam, one-piece swinging arms projecting on each side of said beam and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom, pontoons swiveled on 1 a horizontal axis between the ends of said arms on each side of said beam and parallel thereto, said pontoons being filled with air above atmospheric pressure.

4. A fioat comprising a central horizontal beam, one-piece swinging arms-projecting on,

each side of said beam and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom, pontoons swiveled on a horizontal axis between the ends of said arms on each side of said beam and parallel thereto, an arm extending forwardly and'downwardly from said beam, a pontoon swiveled'onthe lower end of said arm, said pontoon extendingynormally in line with the beam, and means, for turning said pontoon on a vertical axis for the pur-.

pose of steering the float.

5. A float comprising a central horizontal beam, arms projecting on" each side of said beam and extending outwardly and downwardly there:

from, pontoons fastened on the ends of said arms on a horizontal axis between each sideof said beam and parallel thereto, an oar pivotally mounted on the central beam and extending 4 above and below said beam, a blade on-thelower end of said oar, said bla de engagingthe water between the pontoons, a hinge'connecting,the blade and car ctogether',=saidhinge holding the blade inline with the oar when movedin-one direction and allowing the blade to swing rear-- wardly when moved in the other direction. V

6. A float comprising a ;central horizontal beam, one-piece swinging arms projecting on. r

either side of said beam'and extending outwardlyand downwardly therefrom, said arms-being hinged to the beam and being. adapted to 1;)

brought together above the beam.-

'7; A fioatrcomprising a central horizontal 7 beam, one-piece swinging arms projecting on V and downwardly therefrom, said arms -being,

hinged to the ;beam;and being adapted to be I brought; together above the beam,' an armex- 2 tending forwardly'and downwardly from said beam, said arm being hingedto the beam and ,being adapted to be raised'above thejbeam.

8. A fioat comprising a central horizontal each side of said beam at one end thereof, a bearing supported fromone of said arms,- an up- ,beam, one-piece swinging arms projecting... on;

ri'ght shaft mounted to turn in said bearing, a

rudder on the bottom of said, shaft, anarmat the top of said shaft, a lever pivotedionfthe beam,

sha f jand rud a link connecting theend of said armto the lower can be turned.

"RAY, SQU'fEfti 3 

